Cardio on a Bulk: Yes or No?
I’ve been bulking for about three months now and I’m mostly focused on heavy compound lifts — squats, bench, deadlifts, the basics. I’ve gained some decent size, but I also feel like my conditioning has dropped a bit. Walking up stairs leaves me more winded than before, which never used to happen. Some guys at my gym say to skip cardio completely while bulking so you don’t “burn gains,” others say a couple short sessions a week actually help with recovery and appetite. I’m not trying to get shredded right now, just add quality mass without feeling out of shape. Do you keep cardio in during a bulk or just go all in on strength work?
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I used to think cardio had no place in a bulk, but I changed my mind after one offseason where I felt strong but sluggish. Adding two light sessions a week — nothing crazy, just incline walking or cycling — actually helped me recover better between leg days. It also kept my endurance decent so I didn’t feel gassed during higher-rep sets. I read a bit about balancing training stress and recovery while browsing https://wellsfargocenterarts.org/ (randomly ended up there while researching performance topics and even stumbled across discussions mentioning oral steroids online, which got me thinking about long-term health). For me, cardio in moderation doesn’t hurt gains as long as calories are high enough. It’s more about managing intensity than cutting it out completely.